Chicago - High School Edition

I always try hard to find a flaw in a KYMT production, just so that I can maybe offer a word of advice in my report.  However, this year as always, saw a show performed by Juniors to the standard of experienced adults!

An excellent band under the baton of Alan Urquhart opened the show from their upstage pit, and proceeded to lead the cast through the host of well-known numbers that form this popular musical.  At this time, I should say that even with a thirteen piece band, the sound balance was never questionable in any way, thanks to in-house sound and operation!

“And All that Jazz” led by a fantastic Velma (Niamh Corkey) gave us a taste of what was to come. Niamh’s singing and diction, together with pace of delivery and stage presence, was a pleasure to behold!

The “Cell Block Tango”  introduced Velma’s fellow murderesses (Holly McIlhatton, Cara Hayes, Emma Simpson, Catriona Gauld and Maisie Kitchen) performing some skilful choreography with cell bar trucks, while still augmenting the well-drilled Ensemble in the vocals.

Matron Mama Morton (Josie Chalmers), proved that it doesn’t take a large lady to carry off this role.  Josie’s petite form gave more than adequate weight to this part and her rendition of “When You’re Good to Mama”.

Billy Flynn (Ross McKenzie) made a fine entry, descending an eleven tread staircase, with risers illuminating as he took each step. Ross too was in fine voice throughout, but especially in his opening number “All I Care About is Love”. This was quickly followed by his fun “duet” with Roxie (Dominika Valente) “We Both Reached for the Gun” – one of my favourite two songs in the show! Dominika may have been a mute ventriloquist’s dummy in this number, but showed her excellent vocal qualities later in “Roxie”, “Me and My Baby” and other duets and Ensemble numbers.

Then we come to Amos (Blair Hollingworth).  How good must it make an actor feel, when he finishes a number and gets a huge “Aaaww!” from the audience, before they break out into spontaneous, well-deserved applause! This is exactly what happened at the end of my other favourite song in the show “Mr Cellophane”.

Credit must be given to all the minor principals taking part in numerous scenes and vignettes throughout. Their enthusiasm joined that of the Ensemble, to put the icing on the cake for Monica Holland’s first class direction and Jillian Peggie’s wonderfully busy choreography.

Well done KYMT!

 

 

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